Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Election Commission on Thursday issued a notice to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for violating the model code of conduct by allegedly bribing voters during an election rally.
Mulayam's supporters were seen distributing Rs 100 notes in his native village Safai in Etawah on Wednesday while the Samajwadi Party chief was meeting the residents to celebrate Holi.
With the model code of conduct in already in place, the Opposition was quick to complain to the Election Commission about the alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
"It seems to be a clear violation of the election code of conduct," said BJP Spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh.
The Election Commission, too, promptly took notice of the complaint in what is the first major violation of the election code of conduct for the General Elections.
"We have issued a notice and asked him to reply by 11 (11 00 hrs IST) on March 14," said Chief Electoral Officer, UP, AK Bishnoi.
There have been numerous cases in the past when the elected representatives have been in conflict with the Commission.
Some chief ministers have even complained that governance in the country is being affected with code coming into effect for even local body polls.
But Mulayam remains defiant in the alleged money-distribution row.
"It has been a tradition of giving some reward to those who sing during festivals," claimed Mulayam.
But then politics in India cannot be completed without a liberal dose of money power, either in the form of corporates spending on political parties or politicians spending it on voters.
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